Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 2 Muscat - Day 1
by Extreme Sailing Series 11 Mar 2015 17:37 GMT
11-14 March 2015
The opening day of the Extreme Sailing Series™, Act 2 Muscat, delivered an afternoon of perfect racing conditions, as the eight-strong Extreme 40 fleet flew around the coastal racecourse in Muscat, Oman, relishing the North Easterly breeze that filled in from eight to 16 knots.
With six races complete, the stand out team for the day was undoubtedly home boat The Wave, Muscat, with British Olympian Leigh McMillan on the helm joined by two-time British Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton. Aytons's clear, concise tactics onboard saw the team sail a smart course, with the fastest boat speed downwind which led them to the podium in five out of six races, according to the SAP Sailing Analytics. The only blemish on an otherwise near-perfect score line came in the second race, after a tight rounding at the first windward mark with Red Bull Sailing Team, which resulted in a penalty and a last place finish.
On the dock, helm McMillan was quietly satisfied with the result. "I didn't realize how well we had done. We had a few good races – but then that last place, so that was frustrating. I love the intensity of the racing, it doesn't give you time to sit around and contemplate a bad result, you have to smash into the next race and I like that. It was really nice work by the team, and great to be sailing in these fantastic conditions."
However, The Wave, Muscat know is isn't easy to stay at the top, with McMillan admitting, "We often have our highs and lows in these events. We have to push all the way and not let our grip go." With an anticipated 20 races still to come this week, the Omani teams four point lead over second placed SAP Extreme Sailing Team, co-skippered by Jes Gram-Hansen and Rasmus Køstner, could quickly get eaten into. The Danish team had an outstanding day, finding consistency within the fleet and the rolling waves to finish in second place, proving that this team are hot contenders for a podium position, after their second place finish at Act 1, Singapore just four weeks ago. Even an OCS (over course start) in the second race today, couldn't break the stride of the Danes, and thanks to the cool head of tactician Køstner, the team broke away from the fleet, took a right wind shift that came in their favour and lifted the team from last to fourth place.
Speaking after racing, Køstner summed up a job well done. "There are a lot of waves here so you have to think about your manoeuvres. The key is full speed around the course. It is full on action out there – lots of white water spraying off the boat and with everyone pushing hard, things happen quickly. It was a good day on the water."
With a storm due to blow over the city tonight, Race Director Phil Lawrence is optimistic that we will see another day of idyllic 16knot breeze tomorrow for day two in Muscat, as the fleet move into the stadium and the event opens to the public.
Tune in and watch the racing live from 1130 GMT: www.extremesailingseries.com/live
Standings after Day 1
1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari 50 points.
2nd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Mads Emil Stephensen, Brad Farrand 46 points.
3rd Oman Air (OMA) Stevie Morrison, Nic Asher, Ted Hackney, Ed Powys, Ali Al Balashi 44 points.
4th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Jason Waterhouse, Shaun Mason, Stewart Dodson 43 points.
5th GAC Pindar (GBR) Seve Jarvin, Ian Williams, Marcus Ashley-Jones, Tyson Lamond, James Wierzbowski 35 points.
6th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, Alexander Bozhko, Aleksey Kulakov 34 points.
7th Team Turx powered by Kaya Ropes (TUR) Mitch Booth, Edhem Dirvana, Selim Kakýþ, Diogo Cayolla, Matteo Auguadro 31 points.
8th Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) Lorenzo Bressani, Enrico Zennaro, Gabriele Olivo, Tom Buggy, Stefano Ciampalini 29 points.
More from Oman Sail
"It was not a bad day," commented happy skipper McMillan, who overnight has a four-point lead over rivals SAP Extreme Sailing Team after six races.
"It was a great performance by the whole The Wave, Muscat team in conditions that we really enjoy. It was nice to be racing on this open water track and flying our hulls and it was good to have some consistent breeze.
"But we will need to keep pushing hard to keep hold of the lead. And hopefully we can continue what we have started - we will be closer to the shore tomorrow so people will be able to enjoy the spectacle.
It was fantastic to be back in home waters in front of sponsors and friends, McMillan added.
"We would love to race in Muscat more often. It is one of the best sailing venues on the circuit and we always get some good racing here."
The Wave, Muscat's powerhouse bowman Nasser Al Mashari is finding his local knowledge is proving invaluable with the rest of his team who are not so familiar with the waters. "I sail here a lot so I'm trying to help with tactics," he said.
"I am always looking for the wind and where it's coming from. The wind shifts a lot here so it is hard. The guys on The Wave, Muscat are all world class sailors but I can tell them where there are shallow waters or fishing nets which is sometimes useful."
Seeing an Omani at the front of the Extreme pack should guarantee a bumper crowd for the second day's racing and they could be in for a real treat, Al Mashari said.
"If we have some wind tomorrow it will be really exciting for everyone to watch these boats with lots of spray and close action. We are working very hard to make sure we keep on winning - this is our home town and we have to be in the leading group."
One of the biggest surprises of the day was the improved performance of Oman Air, racing in only their second event, they posted two podium places and are just six points behind leaders The Wave, Muscat and two points behind SAP with three days racing still to go.
"In Singapore, I'd never even sailed a catamaran before and this is only my sixth day on a cat," explained skipper Stevie Morrison.
"But I get more confident every time I manage to get the boat off the dock. We came into the event wanting to improve - we have been working on our communications and things like that and I think we were solid today - only two or three silly mistakes but everyone stayed calm and we worked well as a team. Our understanding as a group is growing and we are working things through. It was good fun."